Electrolytic cell



April 26, 1932. J. N, sMlTH ELEcTRoLYTIc CELL Filed Aug. 21, 1928 2 .Sheets-Sheet April 26, 1932. J. N. SMITH 1,855,732

ELECTROLYTIC' CELL Filed mug. 21, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATaNropl-ICE JAMES NORMAN sMrrri, orcvonoNmo,` ONTARIO, CANADA,` AssIGNoR, BY MEsNnAs:V

rro wrisTINGHoUsE nL-Ec'rnrc a MANUrActrUnrNe` coMrAN-sr,v kA con-- sreNMnN'rs,

PORATION F PENNSYLVANIA nLEcTRoLY'rIc CELL Aplilicationriled August V21, 1928. Serial No. 801,144.

This invention relates to electrolytic cells, Vmore particularly tocells for the electrolysis of water. Y

The object of this invention is to provide a simplified electrolytic cell which shall oc-' cupy a minimum amount of space, be efficient in operation and readily assembled.

To this end, I have invented anelectrolyticv cell or electrolyzer which hascombined `.with

it a gas-electrolyte separator to Jform a unitary enclosed structure. Y

The invention also embodies a novel and eiiicient means in each chamber for separating the gas from the gas-electrolyte mixture,

other constructional features to be described hereafter and which are illustrated in the a'c' companying drawings, wherein: Y

v single unit of an electrolytic cell'embodying y my invention; Y v

, Fig. 2 is a cross-section'on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; .j Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the cell as shown in Figs. 2.and 4; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a multi-cell or bipolarrk cell unit; and l. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail viewof a part of the cellas shown in Fig. 4'. v, The single cell unit, shown in cross-section in Fig. 2, is composed of. end plates, 1, 1', held together by bolts 2 at their flanged margins,

insulating gasket 6,Y which gasket is extended:

medially within and across the cell to form with transverse extensions 7, 7 ','from theend plates 1, 1', respectively, two cha1nbers,"anode 8 and cathode 9, in which are disposed the gas,-v

electrolyte separators 10, 10'. The gasket 6inv sulates the extensions 7 ,v7 from each other and also acts as a gas and liquidseal. f

the anolyte and catholyte being then returned` to and mixed in the electrolyzer, as well ,asA

3, 3', to form a completely enclosed cell. r0ne n' endof the bolts 2 is provided with aninsu-V The end plates at their meeting edges 5, 5'

It will beobserved thatl Athe transverse [ex-V tensions 7, 7' (Fig. 2) also divide the cell'into upper v`and lower chamber sections. In the lower section of the cell'are disposed the `'electrodes 11,11', whichare mounted upon the end plates 1', 1', andextend transversely into:

the cell vdisposed between 'adjacent elements and separated bya' pervious diaphragmg12,

`sinusoidal in form and free orf-.unattached at l the bottom but atta'ched'at the topl to asupporting plate 13- (Fig. ,and depending fins leiV of the plate'lr (Fig. 2), the diaphragmy dividing the lower sectionfof vthe cell into anode and cathode chambers`15 and 16, respectively. Y

The endplates 1, 1k are,`o course, opposite polarity and havecast-in or otherwise atelectrolyte, through pipes 17, 17', upwardly,

and the gas-electrolyte mixtures ork emul-V sions are 'deflected downward, after being dis?` tached thereto, the electrodesll, 11'. Adja-- cent electrodes of opposite polarity rest against opposite vsides of thediaphragm 12 and ormfthe active or electrolyzingzone. l

In the electrolysis of water, oxygen lwillfbeV Y evolved Von one side of the diaphragm, and hy-` drogen ony the other. y

charged through said pipes, by baiilesl 18,18 Y

upon a plurality oigparallel screens 1,31?v through which the mixture or emulsionperl colates by gravity and wherebyfthe gas is partially separated *from `the electrolyte. V Theelectrolyte, with some gas entrapped or other-V wiserrnixed with it, falls to the bottomjof the separator chambers 8-1-9 where theremainder of the gas separates therefrom.v The freey gas isithenvremoved from the top of said separator chambers bypipes 19, 19'.

The screening elements are supportedl loy-V extensions 20,20' from the end plates i1, l',` and are'mounted on the riser pipes 17',117-, as

kshown in Figs. 1 and2.

The contructlonfoffthe multior bipolarA I cell (Fig. 4t) is essentially the same as that for Y A'mi the single cell unit, except that the endplat'es` 1, 1. have interposed ,between them interme-`v diate cell members 21,'22and 23.

Y The member 21 has nper iianges 22 lower ianges 28=which la .ut against andare .Y l

insulated from the upper and lower meeting edges of flanges 5, 5 of the end plates l, l by the insulating gasket 6. The lower end of the member 21 is provided with similar trans- 5 verse flanges 37 which'abut against andare insulated fromthe transverse extensions 7, 7 of the en dplates l, l.

" intermediate cell isY disposed between,

theinsulating'gaskets 6, 6 to form, together 10 with it, an intermediate separator section having two separating chambers 23, 23,.each.y

having the separating means described above. I Y f The electrolyzer is into two electtroly'ziiig 'cells 24, 2e by an'intermediate.electrede .support 25,' an'd ea'ch'ofsaid cells isf'urtheridivided intoV an anode chamber'26 anda cathode chambera? bythedaphragm' 12;

Y Thebipolarsupporta (Figs. /5)l isn sula'tively attached 4at'itsupperlan'd lower;

ends to transverse extensions 37a `from the intermediate separator member 2l and flange 28,",dispo`sed between thelower meeting edges @ofthe ian'ge's 5 and 5 of theend plates l, l',

2 5 respectively, as shown in Figli, and at its;

si'desto similar extensions of the intermediate separator section.-

The intermediate separator flange 22 :is

...fr bolted by the insulated bolt 2 toone'ofthe end V3o plates 1,"asin the previous instance, and 'the lflange 28 similarly ybolted by the''insulatedV bol't2f to theother end Vplate l.f

-ln Fig." 5 fis shown in enlarged? 4 detailV a method ofin'siilati-v'ely attaching the-'bipolar 35 electrodesupport 2515037@ extending Vfrein fla-iige`28. Abolt 30 is passed through 'both' liange 28, andA electrode support` and is fin'- sulated therefrom, theflange and' Supportbeing'insulatedl from 'each'V4 other; rThe V upperV 40' aiidlowerpart and the'sides "of thesup'p'ert 25 fare similarly/1y attached `Vto and" insiilatedA` frmlltlie intermediate separator sectien 37a;

1 Fig, 3' shows' in detail the ma'i'ine'r inw'hich Til thetransverseextensions (7,.7ofFig. 2 -orY 7, l7 and`37 of`Fig.4) of the sep'arat'or'sec-Av tins maybe insulated from eachjot-lier'and atthe same time' support the insulating gasket-- G'andthe diaphragm' l2. lTheV lower part of l the extensions (7, 7 or37) clamp the sup#` p'rtingplate 13 to which the diaphragm l2'is attached, andsaidplate is insulated fromv said extensionsby the insulating gasket` :6 and gasket 32 disposed withi'n'o'ne of theextenl" sions.

ket from the' action ofthe oxygemfis siniilarT Y ly clamped and insulated between upper por# tions of said extensions.

" Referring tothe water supply'andvthecir culati'ng system of the cell, water is intro-A diiced intor the separator chambersv 8 -9 'rator chambers. "i Similar outlets 35a and 35?) Asimilarplate 33, forprotecting 'the gjasl` are provided at thebdttom of the anode and cathode chambers l5-16. The anolyte and catholyte, after being freed ofrgas, are returnedyfrom the separator. chambers 8 -9 to theV anodean'd cathode chambers 15?-16 of the electrolyzer yby pipes 36-36, which extend below thediaphragm 1 2, and become mixed inthe electrolyzer, wliich is one ofthe fealY- bolts. invention, what I Having-described my claim vis i. Aa elecuiyie o, @e115 haiiiig eisiefl' within its 'cell'.chambe'rs means fory .separat-K ing. a'v gas-electrolyte vmixture iCompriSllg 2 balile for deflecting downwardlyjthe said milla.

ture,'and meanscdispnsed beneath Said `baille.m

adapted to intercept and separate the cornponent's of said.mixture....1V

` 2. .An electrolyticQcell,I having A disposed within its cell chambers, means for..s epa'ra,t-` ingl agas-electrolyte 4mixture comprising a baille' for deiecting' downwardlyathe "said:-

mixture,Y and screensv disposed beneath said baffle adapted .to interceptand separate the components ofsaidmixturef. 3; separator for. gasliquidimixtures c oiiip'rising means for. downwardly deflecting an. upwardly projected stream of the`.mixture and'means disposedbeneath said deflectifig means adapted to intercept said mixture and separatethe components thereof.

4. A separator for gasfliquid mixtures com.- prising La vertical conduit ejecting. said` mix* ture,fabaiiie disposed above it andadapted to deflect downwardly the said mixture;.an`d screens disposed beneath said baiiieadaptedto intercept said mixture and separate the com-v,

ponents thereof.

` 15.' An electrolytic cell for separating the components of'a gas-liquid mixture oremulsion which comprises means;

for ejecting' said mixture l upwardly, thence dellecting jit downwardly, i and permitting it.. to 'low'by gravity through means f or separating the components of said mixture.- 6. An electrolytic cell comprising, means for separating'the components o f a vgaslir'piid.

mixture or emulsion whichlcomprises. means for ejectingsaid mixture upwardly, thence de flect'ng 'it downwardly, .and means inter-l posed `in the plath ofthe downwardlyfde'- flected gas-liquid for screeningf'said 'mixture td'Separatethef components thereof. f

' 7.' Affelectrolytidcell' 'fand separator' fior i the electrolysis ofvateii'coiiiprisinga unitary structure" having an' elect'roly'zer V` separated into anode and cathode chambers by-a pervi ous diaphragm, a, superimposed separator having gas-anolyte and gas-catholyte chambers in which the gases are separated from the anolyte and catholyte, means in each of said separator chambers for separating the gases from the anolyte and catholyte, respectively, communicating pipes leading upward- 1y from the upper portions of said anode and cathode chambers to the upper portion of said gas-anolyte and gas-catholyte chambers, discharging the gas-ano1yte and the gascatholyte to said separating means therein, respectively, and communicating pipes leading downwardly from the bottom of said gaso anolyte and gas-catholyte chambers to the lower portions of said eleetrolyzer below the diaphragm separating the anode and cathode chambers, respectively.

Signed at Toronto, Province of Ontario, in the county of York and Dominion of Canada, this 16th day of Aug., A. D. 1928.

JAMES NORMAN SMITH. 

